Lynn Bowden finalist for Paul Hornung Award

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky junior athlete Lynn Bowden Jr. has been named a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award which recognizes the most versatile player in college football, it was announced today by the Louisville Sports Commission.

Bowden, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, played wide receiver / punt returner / kickoff returner the first five games of the season, then started at quarterback the last three games when the Kentucky QB corps was decimated by injuries. Since becoming the Cats’ starting QB, Bowden has led UK to wins over Arkansas and Missouri and has been named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll three times, tied for most in the nation. He also has earned Southeastern Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week twice.

Bowden currently leads the SEC and ranks seventh nationally in all-purpose yardage, averaging 145.9 yards per game (note that all-purpose yardage does not include Bowden’s passing yardage as a quarterback). He is one of only two players in the top seven nationally with rushing, receiving, punt return and kickoff return yards.

Bowden, who earned First-Team Midseason All-America honors as an all-purpose player by The Associated Press, ESPN and The Sporting News, is averaging 7.0 yards per rushing attempt, and is in contention to break the school record.

He also is the only player in the nation leading his team in both rushing (712) and pass receiving (348). He ranks 13th on UK’s career receptions list with 114 and is 18th on the career receiving yards list with 1,303 yards.

The 2019 Hornung Award is annually awarded to the most versatile player in college football. The winner will be announced on March 4, 2020 at the award’s annual dinner, to be held at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky. Nicknamed The Golden Boy, Hornung was a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback at Notre Dame in 1956 and the NFL’s Most Valuable Player with the Green Bay Packers whose versatility earned him enshrinement in both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fames.

Fan voting for the winner, powered by Texas Roadhouse, opens today and continues through Dec. 8, 2019, at www.paulhornungaward.com and will again count as the 18th vote. Fans can vote once every 24 hours for their favorite among the four finalists.